Transforming Belval into a Smart City: The SmartSpires Initiative and Its Impact

In a groundbreaking move to revolutionize urban living, the SmartSpires project is set to transform Luxembourg’s Belval campus into a pioneering smart city living lab. This ambitious initiative, backed by a €3.1 million investment from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility, is led by a consortium of innovative organizations including Gcore, 5SKYE, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), and Orange Luxembourg. The official launch was celebrated in a press conference on June 4, 2025, highlighting the project's potential to serve as a model for cities across Europe.

Innovative Infrastructure for Smart Urban Living

The SmartSpires project focuses on integrating 5G connectivity, edge computing, and IoT solutions to enhance urban management and services in Belval. By establishing a robust digital infrastructure, the project will deploy multiple smart towers equipped with advanced 5G technology. These towers will serve as crucial nodes for real-time data processing, allowing for ultra low-latency operation and intelligent service delivery for both residents and local authorities.

Elisabeth Margue, the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister for Media and Connectivity, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "The launch of SmartSpires is a significant milestone in Luxembourg's digital transformation journey." She emphasized the project’s dual purpose of testing new technologies while improving lives and sustainability in urban environments.

A Living Laboratory for Innovation

SmartSpires is not just a project; it’s a living laboratory designed to explore and implement various smart city use cases in collaboration with local stakeholders. The four main use cases focus on:

1. Mobility Services: Leveraging AI and 5G to optimize public transport systems and traffic management.
2. Crowd Analytics: Utilizing data analysis for enhancing public safety and urban planning based on real-time people and traffic flow.
3. Waste Management: Implementing IoT sensors to improve the efficiency of waste collection and recycling processes.
4. Smart City Living Lab: Establishing a platform for experimentation and scaling 5G-enabled solutions in partnership with local communities.

This collaborative approach ensures that the project aligns with the specific needs and priorities of the community, providing a robust framework for the development of intelligent city services.

A Strategic Consortium

The strength of the SmartSpires initiative lies in its powerful consortium. Each member plays a critical role: 5SKYE focuses on deploying multifunctional smart infrastructure, while Gcore coordinates the project and leads the rollout of edge infrastructure. LIST oversees the technical design and implementation of use cases, and Orange Luxembourg provides the 5G network backbone. Together, they are poised to demonstrate how interconnected technologies can build smarter and more resilient cities.

The Vision Ahead

Although focused on Belval, the SmartSpires project aims to provide scalable insights that can be replicated in other European cities. As cities face mounting challenges related to urbanization, environmental sustainability, and public safety, initiatives like SmartSpires showcase a forward-thinking approach to urban development.

Gcore, with its global reach and expertise, plays a pivotal role in driving this initiative. With a history of delivering high-performance solutions, Gcore is well-positioned to guide the deployment of cutting-edge technology in urban spaces. As the project unfolds, the integration of advanced connectivity and intelligent solutions in urban management will undoubtedly pave the way for future innovations that resonate not just in Luxembourg but across Europe and beyond.

In summary, SmartSpires represents a significant leap forward in the evolution of smart cities, combining technology with community engagement to create sustainable, efficient, and responsive urban environments. The collaborative efforts of this bold consortium promise a transformative future for Belval and set a benchmark for smart city endeavors globally.